Use structure or 2 dimensional array as source for RDLC - vb.net

Question

I've done some Googling but can't find anything concrete enough to go forward with, so here I am.
I have date fields that I am running a WHERE clause against, and returning fields based on that. The date fields are encrypted, so I was forced to take an alternative approach.
Dim aEmpList(dt.Rows.Count, 5) As String
Try
lCount = 0
For i As Integer = 0 To dt.Rows.Count - 1
If clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(3)) >= 19500101 Then
aEmpList(lCount, 0) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(0))
aEmpList(lCount, 1) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(1))
aEmpList(lCount, 2) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(2))
aEmpList(lCount, 3) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(3))
aEmpList(lCount, 4) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dt.Rows(i)(4))
lCount = lCount + 1
End If
Next
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(e.ToString())
End Try
clsEncrypt is an encryption/decryption class.
The fields are Employee First Name, Last Name, and Date of Birth - and they are all encrypted.
I am trying to find all Employees born>= 19500101, and return that data as a report.
I created a Structure and put the data as an array into the structure myStructure
'Define a structure to be used as source for data grid view.
Structure mystructure
Private mDim1 As String
Private mDim2 As String
Private mDim3 As String
Private mDim4 As String
Private mDim5 As String
Public Property Dim1() As String
Get
Return mDim1
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
mDim1 = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property Dim2() As String
Get
Return mDim2
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
mDim2 = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property Dim3() As String
Get
Return mDim3
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
mDim3 = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property Dim4() As String
Get
Return mDim4
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
mDim4 = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property Dim5() As String
Get
Return mDim5
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
mDim5 = value
End Set
End Property
End Structure
I populate the structure to load into a DataGridView for visualization purposes:
'populate structure with aEmpList array
Dim myarr(dt.Rows.Count) As mystructure
Try
For i As Integer = 0 To lCount - 1
myarr(i) = New mystructure With {.Dim1 = aEmpList(i, 0).ToString, .Dim2 = aEmpList(i, 1).ToString, .Dim3 = aEmpList(i, 2).ToString, .Dim4 = aEmpList(i, 3).ToString, .Dim5 = aEmpList(i, 4).ToString}
Next
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(e.ToString())
End Try
DataGridView1.DataSource = myarr
Now that I've provided sufficient background, does anyone know what my next move should be?
I'm not sure how, or if, I should load the structure into a DataSet() [if that's even possible] or something of that nature.

Answer 1

As I see it you're trying to create a business class, and thus should use a reference type (Class) instead of a value type (Structure). So, the "next move" would be to change your structure to a class, implement INotifyPropertyChanged, IEditableObject, IChangeTracking, IRevertibleChangeTracking, and create a BindingList(Of T) to hold your items.

Answer 2

So, this kind of sucked to figure out, but I got it. As the question title says - I actually ditched the array portion because all it did was confuse me, and I went with the following solution:
Dim dt As New DataTable
Dim dts As DataSet = New DataSet()
With comm
.CommandText = "SELECT EMPL_ID, EMPL_FIRST_NM, EMPL_LAST_NM, BEG_DT, END_DT FROM EMPL"
End With
Dim adapter As New SqlDataAdapter(comm)
adapter.Fill(dts) 'Fill DT with Query results
dt.Load(dts.CreateDataReader())
Me.reportViewer1.RefreshReport()
Dim dts2 As New DataSet()
dts2 = dts.Clone
Try
Dim m As Integer
m = 0
For i As Integer = 0 To dts.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
If clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(3)) >= "20130101" Then
dts2.Tables(0).Rows.Add()
dts2.Tables(0).Rows(m)(0) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(0))
dts2.Tables(0).Rows(m)(1) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(1))
dts2.Tables(0).Rows(m)(2) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(2))
dts2.Tables(0).Rows(m)(3) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(3))
dts2.Tables(0).Rows(m)(4) = clsEncrypt.DecryptData(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i)(4))
'dts2.Tables(0).Rows.Add(dts.Tables(0).Rows(i).cl)
m = m + 1
End If
Next
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(e.ToString())
End Try
Dim rds As ReportDataSource = New ReportDataSource("DataSetDateOfBirthTest", dts2.Tables(0))
With reportViewer1
.LocalReport.DataSources.Clear()
.LocalReport.DataSources.Add(rds)
.RefreshReport()
End With